A new law directs the state to hand out grants for medical research into marijuana. The focus will be on the drug's impact on conditions that qualify for medical marijuana in Colorado and "on the kinds of products actually being used in Colorado -- something that federally funded studies on marijuana have lacked," Denver Post staff writer John Ingold reports.

Dr. Larry Wolk, the executive director and chief medical officer of the state's health department, told Ingold the state hopes to fund scientifically rigorous research and wants to "act with some expediency because these are products that a large percentage of our population is using today."

"We want to make sure that what's happening out there in everyday practice isn't harming people," Wolk said.

Reports Ingold:

Nearly 20 years after California became the first state in the U.S. to pass a medical marijuana law, the research on marijuana's health effects is still largely polarized.

Several studies — matching the anecdotal experiences of medical marijuana patients — have found cannabis or its isolated components can be effective in managing pain, tremors, nausea, inflammation and other conditions.

In Washington, where recreational marijuana also is legal, advocates and consumers predict retailers will sell out of the drug quickly once shops open this summer.

“There’s just no way it’s not going to sell out,” said Attila Soos, the owner of Verdavanti, one of the largest growers licensed so far. He will have product to offer stores for that first week, he said. “We’ll have product for retailers as long as they are licensed. We expect things to start rolling out July 1st, but it is safe to assume that not all retailers will receive their license July 1st, so you’ll likely see our products being rolled out in weekly phases across the state.”

Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, spoke with The Columbus Dispatch about the politics of marijuana in Ohio. Nadelmann told staff writer Alan Johnson that for now marijuana-related ballot measures in Oregon, Florida and Alaska are priorities for his group.

Johnson reports:

“Support for medical marijuana is very high here,” (Nadelmann) said during a stopover yesterday in Columbus. “But there is a very negative attitude about (recreational) marijuana. Plus, it’s a very expensive state to run a campaign.”

Nadelmann’s team suffered a rare setback in 2002 when Ohioans voted 2-to-1 against a statewide ballot issue that would have required judges to offer drug offenders treatment in lieu of prison. Gov. Bob Taft led the charge against the issue. Since that time, however, Ohio officials have done a 180-degree turn and are now aggressively pushing drug treatment instead of jamming state prisons with non-violent drug offenders.